“Keys! We need keys!” That’s probably what echoed through these very walls during the daring escape of Rocco Morabito from the C\u00e1rcel Central. Now, we stand before this imposing building. It is more than just an old prison. C\u00e1rcel Central is located within the Central Police Palace in Montevideo. Its history is etched in every stone.
C\u00e1rcel Central once held prisoners of political and economic significance. Architect Antonio Fraschetti Rui designed this penitentiary. He collaborated with architects Luis Alberto Larroca and Amadeo Lanza. The C\u00e1rcel Central served as a holding center. It was a place to evaluate inmates before assigning them to other prisons.
During Uruguay’s military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985, C\u00e1rcel Central became a place of confinement for political opponents. Imagine the tension within these walls. People were imprisoned here for standing up for their beliefs.
Ruben Sassano testified before the Senate Special Committee in 1969-1970. He reported being detained without due process. He also said that he was tortured along with others. This happened first at the 9th Police Station. Later it was in the Montevideo Police Headquarters.
From March 1976 to March 1984, several military personnel linked to the Frente Amplio were held on the 6th floor. They opposed the dictatorship. The C\u00e1rcel Central was a place of political imprisonment.
In March 1985, the last female political prisoners were transferred here. They came from the Punta de Rieles prison. This was prior to their release. A massive popular mobilization greeted their freedom on Sunday, March 10. A few days later, on March 14, the last male political prisoners were released.
Though slated to become the Council of Secondary Education headquarters in 2019, C\u00e1rcel Central continues to function as a detention center. The prison administration determines who stays here. The walls of C\u00e1rcel Central still echo with stories of confinement.
In September 2019, Rocco Morabito, a notorious drug kingpin, escaped. He was also known as the “king of cocaine”. Morabito’s escape put C\u00e1rcel Central back in the headlines. He had been captured in Uruguay in 2017 after 23 years on the run.
Morabito lived in Maldonado. He used Brazilian documents and then obtained Uruguayan documents. He went by the name Francisco Antonio Capeletto Souza.
On June 24, 2019, Morabito escaped from C\u00e1rcel Central with three other inmates. Only Rocco remains at large. The prosecutor’s office is still investigating possible corruption. The cameras in C\u00e1rcel Central were not working the day Rocco Morabito fled.
Morabito’s cell was number 24 on the 6th floor. It was next to the bathroom and the gym. He likely planned his escape carefully. He removed the bars from his window. Then he cut the wire that prevented him from reaching the roof.
After escaping, he went to a pizzeria in Punta Carretas. The Russian owner helped him. The owner drove him to Minas and was later imprisoned.
C\u00e1rcel Central is more than bricks and mortar. It is a place where silence speaks volumes. The distinct smell of the prison lingers. It is a mix of confinement and history. The walls of C\u00e1rcel Central witnessed political imprisonment, daring escapes, and countless untold stories. As we leave, remember the echoes of the past.